Yes, the Essex batsmen have done well. Given the state of the forecast, their best bet is to try to get maximum batting points if they can, but that's still a long way away.
Talking of extras, I was at a match a long time ago - Gooch scored 139 or thereabouts, and at the time it was his best first-class score - in which extras topped 50. There was a big round of applause for them. That was at Chalkwell Park, and I'm sure it was 1976, the last time Essex played at Chalkwell Park. Worcestershire were the opponents. I recall that Basil d'Oliveira and Imran Khan were in their team.
Edit:
this one. I hope that's visible - google found that page straight away, but I have a login for the Wisden website.
Surrey look as though they are heading for another big win. They are being held up by rain at the moment, but I think their forecast, at the Oval, is for pretty good weather compared to Chester-le-Street.